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Strategic Sourcing Initiatives at DHS
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Strategic Sourcing Initiatives at DHS

Jose Arrietta, Procurement Ombudsman at DHS discussed the agency’s procurement strategy and the agencies prioritization of Strategic Sourcing at the Department at GTSC’s recent annual meeting.

As a follow-up, Mr. Arrietta provided the following exceptions to Strategic Sourcing:

a.  Emergency operations – Specify the emergency operation, including the name, date, location, and description. Document how using a strategic sourcing contract vehicle would negatively impact the mission.
b.  National security – Include a written description of how using a strategic sourcing contract vehicle compromises national security.
c.  Remote locations – Specify the remote delivery location and include written analysis that quantifies the higher cost or delay that would result from using a strategic sourcing vendor.
d.  Greater savings – Purchases where the savings from using a non-strategic sourcing vehicle exceeds the savings from the strategic sourcing vehicle – Include a written analysis that shows the savings comparison. Documentation shall be signed by the official approving the exception (include name and title of official).
e.  Required by statute – Specify the statute that requires the use of a non-strategic sourcing vehicle.
f.  Priorities for Use of Government Supply Sources – Specify the supply source indicated as a higher priority in FAR Part 8.002 and the contract vehicle to be used. These sources may include Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled and mandatory Federal Supply Schedules. These sources may not include optional use Federal Supply Schedules because strategic sourcing contract vehicles have higher priority than optional use Federal Supply Schedules.

Strategic Sourcing Initiatives at DHS

 

GTSC’s Social Media Cents: Top 6 Reasons to Tweet
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GTSC’s Social Media Cents: Top 6 Reasons to Tweet

gtsc_social_media2Part of GTSC’s mission is to make you more savvy and succesful as a business. In this issue of the Weekly Insider, we are launching a new column called “Social Media Cents” that will discuss the latest social media trends, advice on how to leverage social media to your benefit, and tips on what NOT to do as you enter Twitterdom. Just our two “cents.”
So, Tweets. Twitter. What’s all this chirping about? While some see social media as annoying chirping, others are using these new tools to increase their reach with customers, understand customer priorities and build their “following.” Read on for the top 6 reasons you should join the chirping.
1. Insight into your clients. Gain insight into what’s important to your current or potential government customers and teaming partners by following them on Twitter. You’ll learn what they consider important, what is trending (in their opinion), and what’s on their minds. You’ll also be on top of new programs, issues, industry days, news and more by following your government customers.

2. Raises your visibility. Linking your Twitter account to your company website, Facebook, and LinkedIn only takes a minute. If you engage to build a two-way dialogue forum about your research and ideas you will increase your visibility and reach. Beware, though, “Build it, and they will come” does not apply here. Make sure you or someone in your company is shooting out little bits of news and info on a regular basis. Get your company out there!

3. Maintains your presence. Contracts have been far and few between these days. Twitter accounts help you maintain your presence and energy, not look dormant. Give life to your company by adding fresh content to your company Twitter. Make sure the content is always relevant and important. Think: would you click on it? 

4. Helps you find great people. Now more than ever, potential employees are researching across all spectrums to see if they want to work for a specific company. Don’t miss the opportunity to share with potential employees. Many companies elect to make a special Twitter handle for HR like @CompanyHR or @CompanyJobs to share job announcements and the good work of their employees.

5. Positions you as a thought leader. As your business grows, you must find new avenues for branding and cultivating thought leadership. Twitter is a great vehicle to promote your company’s ideas, research, news, blog and partnerships.That being said, be careful with content marketing – its primary purpose is to become a trusted resource so don’t be overly “salesy.” If you are sharing helpful and insightful content, others will begin to think of you as a thought leader. Allow them to arrive at that conclusion on their own without telling them you are a thought leader.

6. Own your domain. While you may not be interested in using a Twitter account today, once the username is taken: it’s gone. Create a log-in and username for all social media accounts so you leave your company the option to use them in the future. And then actually use them.

Don’t know where to start? Make a Twitter account and start follow @GTSCoalition for information about upcoming programs, news and announcements. Together, we make the homeland and national security community stronger – even on social media. >>Visit Twitter